Toromont Workers Ratify New Deal

July 14, 2009, 1:30 PM EST

CAW Local 112 members at Toromont CAT in Concord, Ontario have ratified a new three year agreement by 89 per cent. The deal was reached after workers rejected the company's final offer on July 5.

"There's no question this deal was made possible by the determination of the workers who rejected Toromont CAT's attempt to extract major concessions," CAW Local 112 President Roland Kiehne said.

"As a result, we were able to protect our members' wages, benefits, pensions and seniority rights when the Toromont CAT relocates the facility sometime in the future," said Kiehne. "This was the number one priority of the bargaining committee."

In addition to the relocation protection, workers will receive wage increases and benefit improvements.

"This round of negotiations was extremely difficult and now a lot of effort needs to be made by the company to show good faith and start rebuilding the important working relationship," said Mel Cornwall, Local 112 Toromont Chairperson.

"The solidarity of the membership in rejecting the unilateral final offer which forced the company to bargain with the union during this round of talks was key to reaching a settlement," said CAW national representative Mike Reuter. "We have challenges ahead as the company looks to relocate, but our new agreement and the solidarity of the membership bode well for the future."